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The Blue Jays need to repeat as American League champions following a magical 2025 post-season run that culminated with a crushing Game 7 extra-innings loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers within the World Series.
The staff reloaded within the low season and returns with renewed hope. But will it’s sufficient to compete within the stacked AL East? And which gamers might emerge as key contributors this 12 months?
Our Blue Jays specialists weigh in on these questions and extra forward of Friday’s house opener (vs. Athletics at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet).
The Blue Jays gained the American League in 2025, however their division rivals had been busy this winter, too. How do you assess the AL East because the season begins?
Shi Davidi: Worth remembering is that whereas the Blue Jays gained the AL East, they completed tied with the Yankees at 94-68 and took the title thanks solely to the head-to-head tiebreaker, so the hole was immensely small to start with. The projected standings at FanGraphs underline that, as six wins separate all 5 groups, with the Yankees, Blue Jays and Red Sox inside a sport of each other. Objectively, then, the division is a toss-up, and the Blue Jays might want to execute the way in which they did a 12 months in the past to repeat.
Ben Nicholson-Smith: This division options an absurd prime 4, and that is earlier than you get to the Rays, who cannot be discounted. The Orioles might be method higher than they had been final 12 months and Boston may need the very best rotation within the American League, however as of now I nonetheless see the Blue Jays and Yankees main the way in which. Both are deep, balanced groups and I’ll give the Blue Jays the tiebreaker as a result of they confirmed in 2025 that they get probably the most out of their expertise with nice chemistry and a well-deployed bench.
David Singh: The Orioles and Red Sox are severe threats, however the Yankees pose the best problem. They had been a unique staff after final season’s commerce deadline and are working it again with the identical group. We know Aaron Judge is a monster, however a wholesome Giancarlo Stanton, a full season of Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler, and a returning Gerrit Cole quantities to scary stuff.
Arden Zwelling: It’s probably the most aggressive division in baseball. The AL East spent $925 million on free brokers this winter. The AL West, AL Central and NL Central spent $888 million, mixed. The Blue Jays, Orioles, Red Sox and Yankees are all top-10 MLB groups by projected fWAR. And the Rays are top-15. It’s not arduous to see all 5 golf equipment ending above .500, and 4 of them with over 85 wins.
Jeff Blair: Balanced. I can see any of the Blue Jays, Orioles, Yankees and Red Sox ending first, occupying a wild-card spot or ending fourth and lacking the playoffs. Don’t see the Rays squeezing in.
The 2025 Blue Jays had unbelievable chemistry. Can that be matched in 2026?
Zwelling: If they’re a profitable staff once more, positive. Winning solves all the things. But if the Blue Jays have a dropping document and fall in need of their targets, nobody’s going to be completely happy. Regardless of clubhouse camaraderie.
Singh: I chatted with some gamers about this throughout spring coaching they usually all agreed that the natural chemistry of the 2025 squad merely can’t be replicated. However, apart from Chris Bassitt, the important thing elements stay within the combine, so it’ll be fascinating to see how the clubhouse evolves this season.
Blair: I’m extra of a physics man. If they’re a profitable staff, the chemistry — no matter which means — might be superb.
Nicholson-Smith: Even in a best-case situation, essential gamers equivalent to Chris Bassitt and Bo Bichette are gone, so the vibe will shift. But I feel the chemistry might be there if the staff wins. Between Max Scherzer, Kevin Gausman, Myles Straw, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer and lots of others, there’s a robust base right here. Of course, in the event that they disappoint, the chemistry will inevitably fall off. When groups underwhelm on the sector, it’s nearly not possible to have the identical optimistic vibes that characterised the 2025 group.
Davidi: I used to be speaking to George Springer about this final week and I’m going to defer to him: “Overall, the basic character of the staff is there. Every staff is exclusive in its personal proper, so I do not ever attempt to examine one staff to a different … however I feel guys perceive what actually labored for us final 12 months.”
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Beyond established stars Springer, Cease and Guerrero Jr., whose efficiency are you most intrigued by for the 2026 season?
Singh: Daulton Varsho. I answered the identical query with the outfielder final 12 months and was validated by the ability he flashed throughout his twice-interrupted marketing campaign. People across the Blue Jays are excited to see how his work with hitting coach David Popkins and Co. interprets over a full season, and I’m too. Expect an enormous 2026 from the approaching free agent.
Nicholson-Smith: Addison Barger and Kazuma Okamoto come to thoughts, particularly because the Blue Jays might want to change Bichette’s offence in some way. Along these traces, I’ll go together with Jesus Sanchez, the highly effective left-handed bat who has flown beneath the radar this spring.
Blair: Has to be Addison Barger and Jeff Hoffman — the latter of whom may need to try Brad Lidge’s profession after giving up an epic post-season house run to Albert Pujols.
Davidi: Kazuma Okamoto is an apparent selection and Daulton Varsho is up there, too, in his stroll 12 months, however let’s go together with Addison Barger. Providing left-handed energy and demanding versatility between third base and proper discipline, he had an immense affect final 12 months and there have been intervals when he was a complete drive. He mentioned he feels much more in tune together with his strategy now, which ought to additional gasoline his manufacturing, making for some actually enjoyable upside.
Zwelling: Addison Barger has superstar-level bat velocity and energy. If he can proceed pushing his stroll and strikeout charges in the proper instructions, taking selective possibilities inside a measured strategy constructed upon an understanding of what pitchers try to do to him, he could possibly be a top-30 hitter.
Let’s hear a daring prediction for the 2026 Blue Jays.
Nicholson-Smith: I used to be going to say Dylan Cease will end top-three in Cy Young voting, however that is not all that daring. Daulton Varsho might hit 30 homers, however once more that is not that daring. With John Schneider managing the AL, I might genuinely see Max Scherzer pitching within the All-Star Game, whether or not purely due to advantage or as a nod to his legacy. That’s considerably daring, however we are able to do higher. Let’s go together with this: Current Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore will begin and win a playoff sport for the Blue Jays in 2026.
Singh: Addison Barger, not Vladimir Guerrero Jr., leads the staff in house runs.
Davidi: Ernie Clement, all-star. Andres Gimenez, five-fWAR season.
Blair: Four Blue Jays starters end with extra innings pitched than Trey Yesavage.
Zwelling: Andres Gimenez will lead the staff in fWAR.
Finish the sentence: 2026 might be a hit if the Blue Jays …
Blair: … do the almost not possible: get again to the World Series. Anybody who says the rest is dodging the matter.
Zwelling: … return to the post-season. October baseball is so closely influenced by variance and luck, that it’s misguided to carry any staff to expectations greater than that. Beneath the floor, a profitable season can even see the group develop a number of minor-leaguers on each side of the ball into reputable 26-man roster choices for 2027, serving to to backfill future departures and reduce the necessity to perpetually increase by way of free company.
Davidi: … can get themselves again into the playoffs for an opportunity at one other run. What they did final 12 months is so troublesome and so many issues want to interrupt proper alongside the way in which, which makes World Series or bust an unfair gauge. That needs to be, and is, their aim, after all. But, objectively, entering into the event is a extra affordable and honest measure.
Nicholson-Smith: … win not less than one sport within the ALDS. Ideally extra, clearly. But in the event that they make the playoffs, get via the wild-card spherical and win an LDS sport, that’s a robust begin.
Singh: Last 12 months, I mentioned a deep playoff run was the marker. This season, the reply must be a World Series victory, proper?
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